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Beaumont, Texas
City of Beaumont
Downtown Beaumont and port
Location within Texas
Location within Texas
Beaumont, Texas is located in Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Location in Texas
Beaumont, Texas is located in the United States
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Location in the United States
Beaumont, Texas is located in North America
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Location in North America
Country United States
State Texas
County Jefferson
Settled 1835
Incorporation 1838
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
Area
 • City 85.19 sq mi (220.64 km2)
 • Land 82.46 sq mi (213.56 km2)
 • Water 2.73 sq mi (7.08 km2)
Elevation
16 ft (5 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 115,282
 • Density 1,353.23/sq mi (522.489/km2)
 • Urban
147,922 (222nd U.S.)
 • Metro
404,872 (130th U.S.)
 • Demonym
Beaumonter
Time zone UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77701–77710, 77713, 77720, 77725, 77726
Area code(s) 409
FIPS code 48-07000
GNIS feature ID 1330268
Interstates I-10.svg
U.S. Routes US 69.svg US 90.svg US 96.svg US 287.svg
Waterways Neches River, Pine Island Bayou
Public transit BMTS

Beaumont is a coastal city in the U.S. state of Texas. As the county seat of Jefferson County, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan statistical area, it is located in Southeast Texas on the Neches River about 85 miles (137 km) east of Houston (city center to city center). With a population of 115,282 at the 2020 census, Beaumont is the largest incorporated municipality by population near the Louisiana border. Its metropolitan area was the 10th largest in Texas in 2019, and 132nd in the United States.

The city of Beaumont was founded in 1835. The pioneer settlement had an economy based on the development of lumber, farming, and port industries. In 1892, Joseph Eloi Broussard opened the first commercially successful rice mill in Texas, stimulating development of rice farming in the area; he also started an irrigation company (since 1933 established as the Lower Neches Valley Authority) to support rice culture. Rice became an important commodity crop in Texas and is now cultivated in 23 counties.

A big change occurred in 1901 with the Spindletop gusher, which demonstrated that a huge oil field lay underneath and adjacent to the city. With Spindletop, several energy companies developed in Beaumont, and some remain. The area rapidly developed as one of the country's major petrochemical refining areas. Along with Port Arthur and Orange, Beaumont forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Beaumont is home to Lamar University, a national Carnegie doctoral research university with 14,966 students, including undergraduates and postgraduates. Over the years, several corporations have been based in this city, including Gulf States Utilities, which had its headquarters in Beaumont until its takeover by Entergy Corporation in 1994. GSU's Edison Plaza headquarters remains the tallest building in Beaumont.

History

In 1824 Noah and Nancy Tevis settled on the west bank of the Neches River and developed a farm. Soon after that, a small community grew up around the farm, which was named Tevis Bluff or Neches River Settlement. In 1835 the land of Tevis, together with the nearby community of Santa Anna (in total, 50 acres (20 ha)), was purchased by Northerners Henry Millard (1796?–1844) of New York, Joseph Pulsifer (1805–1861) of Massachusetts, and Thomas Byers Huling (1804–1865) of Pennsylvania . They began planning a town to be laid out on this land. Their partnership, J.P. Pulsifer and Company, controlled the first 50 acres (200,000 m2) upon which the town was founded. This town was named Beaumont, after Jefferson Beaumont, the brother-in-law of Henry Millard. They added more property for a total of 200 acres.

Beaumont became a town on 16 December 1838. Beaumont's first mayor was Alexander Calder. From the town's founding in 1835, business activities included real estate, transportation, and retail sales. Later, other businesses were formed, especially in railroad construction and operation, new building construction, lumber sales, and communications. The Port of Beaumont became a successful regional shipping center. Beaumont was a small center for cattle raisers and farmers in its early years. With an active riverport by the 1880s, it became an important lumber and rice-milling town. It exported rice as a commodity crop.

The Beaumont Rice Mill, founded in 1892 by Joseph Eloi Broussard, was the first commercially successful rice mill in Texas. In addition, Broussard founded a company to operate an irrigation system to support rice culture. (It became a public institution, the Lower Neches Irrigation Authority.) This helped stimulate the expansion of rice cultivation from 1500 acres in 1892 to 400,000 acres in 23 counties by his death in 1956. Beaumont's lumber boom, which reached its peak in the late 19th century, was stimulated by the rebuilding and expansion of the railroads in the state and region after the Civil War.

The rise of Beaumont's mill economy drew many new residents to the city, many of them immigrants. The first Jewish man in the city was from Louisiana, others migrated from the South, and were joined by immigrants. They worked as merchants and in a variety of jobs in the growing city and ranching area. In 1895 Jews formed their first congregation. By the early 20th century, the city was served by the Southern Pacific; Kansas City Southern, Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe; and Missouri Pacific railroad systems.

Lucas gusher
Lucas Gusher, Spindletop

Oil was discovered at nearby Spindletop on 10 January 1901. Spindletop became the first major oil field and one of the largest in American history. With the discovery of oil at Spindletop, Beaumont's population more than tripled in two months from 9,000 in January 1901 to 30,000 in March 1901. Oil is, and has always been, a major export of the city, and a major contributor to the national GDP.

William Casper Tyrrell, nicknamed "Captain W.C.", was a leading businessman and oil tycoon in the city in the early 20th century, developing businesses during the Texas Oil Boom. An entrepreneur from Pennsylvania and Iowa, he arrived after the gusher at Spindletop, and invested in development of a commercial port in the city, and an irrigation system to support the local rice industry, as well as residential and retail development of suburban property. He was also a philanthropist. He purchased and donated First Baptist Church, whose congregation had moved to a new facility, to use as the city's first public library, now known as the Tyrrell Historical Library.

When the city became a major center for defense shipbuilding during World War II, tens of thousands of rural Texans migrated there for the new high-paying jobs. The Roosevelt administration ordered the defense industry to be integrated, and many Southern whites were working closely with blacks for the first time. Housing was scarce in the crowded city, and racial tensions increased.

In the postwar years, Beaumont's port continued in importance. Although Beaumont's city center is located 85 highway miles from the Houston city center and 60 air miles from city limit boundary to city limit boundary, the city is now considered part of the widespread Houston metropolitan area. As was typical with other cities, postwar highway construction led to the development of new suburbs and dispersal of population in search of new housing. There has been some renewal in Beaumont downtown and people have rediscovered the river.

In 1996, the Jefferson County courts, located in Beaumont, became the first court in the nation to implement electronic filing and service of court documents, eliminating the need for law firms to print and mail reams of documents.

In 2005 and 2008, Beaumont and surrounding areas suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike. A mandatory evacuation was ordered for residents, lasting about two weeks.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 85.9 square miles (222 km2), of which 85.0 square miles (220 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (1.07%) is water.

Beaumont lies on Texas' coastal plain, about 30 miles (48 km) inland from the Gulf of Mexico, one hour drive east of Houston, and just south of the dense pine forests of East Texas. The city is bordered on the east by the Neches River and to the north by Pine Island Bayou. Before being settled, the area was crisscrossed by numerous small streams. Most of these streams have since been filled in or converted for drainage purposes. The island directly across from Riverfront Park is called Trinity Island. There are also three other islands in the Neches River around the downtown area/port: Harbor, Smith and Clark.

Climate

The city of Beaumont, Texas is within the humid subtropical climate zone. This city is located within the Piney Woods, which cover the eastern region of Texas, as well as adjacent Louisiana. This region of Texas receives the most rainfall in the state, with more than 48 inches (1,200 mm) annually. This is due to the warm gulf waters that carry humid air to the region, where it condenses and precipitates. The humidity of the region greatly amplifies the feeling of heat during the summer.

Hurricanes such as the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, and Hurricane Ike in 2008, also strike the region. Hurricane Ike was the largest and most damaging hurricane to hit Beaumont to date, striking 13 September 2008. Causing $32 billion in damage, it is the third-costliest hurricane in United States history. On 18 August 2009, a tornado hit the west end of Beaumont, and caused damage to several local businesses and cars. Injuries were minimal.

The winters are moderated by warm gulf currents. Wintry precipitation is unusual, but does occur. A recent snow event was 24 December 2004, the first such since 1989. However, more recently, Beaumont and the surrounding areas received a light snow on 11 December 2008, with up to 4 inches (100 mm) in the west end. Beaumont and the surrounding areas received a trace to half an inch of light snow on 4 December 2009. These are the earliest measurable snowfalls at the airport since the late 19th century. Although in unofficial records, Beaumont received as much as 30 inches (760 mm) of snow on 14 February and 15 during the blizzard of 1895 that impacted the gulf coast with unusual cold weather. Unofficially the temperature reported a drop to a low of 4 °F (−16 °C) after the storm. The area suffered a severe ice storm in January 1997.

The Beaumont-Port Arthur region has historically been cited as one of the most polluted urban areas in the United States due to various energy industries and chemical plants in the area. Even so, as of July, 2014, the Beaumont-Port Arthur region was not under any Environmental Protection Agency non-attainment restrictions; however, counties in the Greater Houston area, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and El Paso were. As of October, 2014, the Beaumont-Port Arthur area was not under any Texas Commission on Environmental Quality attainment compliance deadlines. Regardless, according to an article published in 2007 focusing on Beaumont's neighbor to the south, Port Arthur, pollution was believed to have caused some general area residents to become sick and has generated debates throughout the media.

Climate data for Beaumont, Texas (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30)
90
(32)
95
(35)
94
(34)
101
(38)
106
(41)
108
(42)
108
(42)
105
(41)
99
(37)
94
(34)
86
(30)
108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 62.2
(16.8)
64.5
(18.1)
71.6
(22.0)
79.2
(26.2)
85.8
(29.9)
90.9
(32.7)
92.2
(33.4)
93.2
(34.0)
88.1
(31.2)
80.9
(27.2)
72.0
(22.2)
62.8
(17.1)
78.6
(25.9)
Average low °F (°C) 42.5
(5.8)
45.5
(7.5)
52.1
(11.2)
60.0
(15.6)
68.0
(20.0)
73.4
(23.0)
75.3
(24.1)
74.8
(23.8)
69.8
(21.0)
60.7
(15.9)
51.7
(10.9)
42.5
(5.8)
59.7
(15.4)
Record low °F (°C) 11
(−12)
10
(−12)
20
(−7)
32
(0)
45
(7)
53
(12)
61
(16)
58
(14)
45
(7)
30
(−1)
22
(−6)
12
(−11)
10
(−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.94
(125)
3.86
(98)
3.50
(89)
2.92
(74)
5.18
(132)
7.20
(183)
6.20
(157)
4.96
(126)
6.35
(161)
5.44
(138)
4.78
(121)
4.99
(127)
60.34
(1,533)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.7 9.8 8.7 6.6 7.8 10.7 11.9 10.8 9.8 7.8 8.5 10.5 113.6
Source: NOAA The Weather Channel (records)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 3,296
1900 9,427 186.0%
1910 20,640 118.9%
1920 40,422 95.8%
1930 57,732 42.8%
1940 59,061 2.3%
1950 94,014 59.2%
1960 119,175 26.8%
1970 117,548 −1.4%
1980 118,067 0.4%
1990 114,177 −3.3%
2000 113,866 −0.3%
2010 118,296 3.9%
2020 115,282 −2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020

The city of Beaumont and its metropolitan statistical area have experienced slight population decline and stagnation since 2015's census estimates, while modest increases in population have assisted in the area's demographic sustainment. Similar to its population fluctuations from 1980 to 1990, Beaumont's population has shifted from roughly 115,000 to 118,000 residents from the 2020 and 2010 United States census. According to the 2010 United States census there were 118,296 people, 45,648 households, and 28,859 families residing in the city limits. Per the 2020 United States census, its population slightly declined to 115,282 residents. In 2010, Beaumont's population density was 1,339.4 people per square mile (517.2/km2). Housing units were at an average density of 574.2 per square mile (221.7/km2).

Of the 45,648 households at the 2010 United States census, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families; 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12. Among its population at the 2019 American Community Survey, the median age was 34.6 and the average family size was 3.23. From an estimated 45,435 occupied housing units in 2019, 52.1% were owner-occupied and the median selected monthly costs for units with a mortgage were $1,366 and $412 without a mortgage.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,699, according to the American Community Survey during 2010, and the median income for a family was $49,766. The per capita income for the city was $23,137. About 17.6% of families and 22.1% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. From 2014 to 2019, its median income for households was $54,488; families had a median income of $61,069; married-couple families $78,239; and non-family households $29,415. In 2019, an estimated 16.7% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.

Race and ethnicity

According to the 2010 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 33.5% non-Hispanic white, 47.3% Black and African American, 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 7.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race were 13.4% of the population. By 2020, its population increased to being predominantly Black or African American as its non-Hispanic white population slightly declined, reflecting nationwide demographic trends of diversification and self-identification. Also in 2020, its Hispanic or Latino American population of any race increased to 20,607 residents.

Religion

Religiously, Sperling's BestPlaces estimated roughly 78.6% of the population were religious. Christianity, since colonial times, has remained the dominant religion by identification in Beaumont and its surrounding area. In the Christian community, Baptists were the largest Protestant Christian tradition and spread among numerous denominations; the most notable denominational affiliations among Baptists were the Southern Baptist Convention and National Baptist Convention (USA and America). Roman Catholicism, however, remained the largest single denomination in the city; Roman Catholics have been primarily served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont which is a jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston-Houston.

Culture

Arts and theatre

Museums and buildings open for tours

Art Museum of Southeast Texas
Art Museum of Southeast Texas, notice the last remaining column from the Perlstein Building.
2014-10-11 Beaumont, Tx., French Trading, Historic homes 014
John Jay French Museum
  • Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET), with its Perlstein Plaza, dedicated in memory of pioneer real estate developer Hyman Asher Perlstein (1869–1947), who arrived in Beaumont in 1889 as a poor Jewish immigrant from Lithuania and eventually became one of the city's major builders. The museum stands on the site of the Perlstein building, which was the tallest structure between Houston and New Orleans when it was erected in 1907. Only one column still remains from the building. AMSET, formerly the Beaumont Art Museum, exhibits 19th–21st century American art with a collecting focus on Texas art and Folk Art and offers 10–14 educational programs in any given year. Admission is free, and is the only museum open seven days per week.
  • Beaumont Children's Museum Started in 2008 and opened in 2012, the museum moved to a temporary location in 2015 to the Beaumont Civic Center
  • The Art Studio, Inc. (TASI), a non-profit arts cooperative and art gallery space that rents subsidized space to visual artists. Also hosts poetry readings, music events, film screenings. Housed in a converted warehouse in the industrial district of Beaumont's downtown.
  • Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum. Museum dedicated to the life of the Beaumont native and accomplished athlete.
  • The Beaumont Art League is the oldest non-profit art gallery in the area, operating for 70 years. The two gallery spaces (at the old Fairgrounds on Gulf Street) host art exhibitions and juried shows year-round, including the notable BAL National Exhibition (formerly the Tri-State Show), which attracts artists from across the country.
  • The Chambers House, built in 1906, this home is open for tours. It is filled with period furniture, personal items, and artifacts used in the home.
  • The Clifton Steamboat Museum opened its doors on 26 October 1995. The theme of the museum is "Heroes... Past, Present, and Future", honoring military and civilian heroes. The Clifton Steamboat Museum consists of a 24,000 square feet (2,200 m2), two-story museum. Exhibits bring to life the wars fought in Southeast Texas and Louisiana, as well as the Steamboat Era, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. Upper art galleries of the museum feature original bronze sculptures; Native American artists, wildlife, and frontier paintings from famous artists. A special gallery in the museum is dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America. This gallery features many historical scouting artifacts, some dating before the 1960s. The tugboat, Hercules, 36 feet (11 m) high, 22 feet (6.7 m) wide, and 92 feet (28 m) long, is included on the museum tour. Tours available by appointment only.
  • Dishman Art Museum is the university art museum of Lamar University. The museum features 19th and 20th century European and American Art, as well as Tribal Art from Africa and New Guinea.
  • Edison Museum – about inventor Thomas Edison The museum features exhibits and artifacts about Thomas Edison and his innovations.
  • Fire Museum of Texas – Home of one of world's largest fire hydrants. Antique fire trucks and equipment chronicle the history of firefighting in Texas. Educational programs stress the importance of fire safety.
  • The McFaddin-Ward House, was built in 1905–06 in the Beaux-Arts Colonial style and is located in the Oaks Historic District. The structure and its furnishings reflect the prominent family who lived in the house for seventy-five years. This very large historic home has a substantial carriage house. The complex has a substantial permanent collection of antique furniture and household items. Educational programs focus on history and are geared toward children and adults.
  • Red Lobster's historical marine museum
  • Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, this complex includes several reconstructed buildings reminiscent of the original Gladys City. The buildings contain artifacts from the period.

Other historic buildings

Jefferson Theatre
Jefferson Theatre
  • Beaumont Commercial District is a collection of historic buildings in downtown, a national historic district registered with the NRHP.
  • Crockett Street Entertainment District The entertainment district includes five vintage buildings dating from around the turn of the 20th century. Each of the buildings has been renovated and several have been re-purposed to restaurants and entertainment.
  • Jack Brooks Federal Building, built in 1933 as a WPA project.
  • Jefferson County Courthouse is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture.
  • The Jefferson Theatre, built in 1927, is an historic theater that presents live musical and stage performances as well as limited revival screenings of classic films. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and recognized also as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
  • Julie Rogers Theater was formerly Beaumont's city hall and civic auditorium. The building was renovated to serve as a theater for live performances.
  • St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica
Tyrrelllibrarycrop
Built in 1903 as First Baptist Church, this building is now Tyrrell Historical Library; a 2010 addition stands on the left
  • Temple Emanuel (Beaumont, Texas) has a notable set of stained glass windows by Israeli artist Ze'ev Raban
  • Tyrrell Historical Library, formerly First Baptist Church; the building is now used as an historical library. It has an extensive collection of genealogical records.

Performing arts

  • Symphony of Southeast Texas - Founded in 1953 as the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra, the symphony has been performing several performances each year since then. Several guest artists including Van Cliburn and Ferrante & Teicher have appeared with the symphony.

Tourism and recreation

In Beaumont

  • The Beaumont Botanical Gardens is located near the entrance to the 500 acre Tyrrell Park. On its 23.5 acre grounds, it includes over ten themed gardens, the 10,000 sq ft Warren Loose Conservatory and a large collection of bromeliads.
  • Tyrrell Park and Cattail Marsh - Botanical Gardens and conservatory, Henry Homberg Municipal Golf Course, a 900-acre Cattail Marsh nature area, a 2.8 mile nature trail. restrooms, shelters, Babe Zaharias Drive Monument, baseball backstop, lighted basketball goals, benches, drinking fountains, 2.8-mile (4.5 km) nature trail, picnic tables
  • Ford Park The park includes the Ford Arena with a 9,737 seating capacity, an 18,000 seat pavilion, twelve competition softball fields, and exhibit halls.

In downtown Beaumont

Beaumont February 16 037
Event Centre

Downtown Beaumont is the center of Business, Government and night time entertainment in southeast Texas. Downtown features the Crockett Street Entertainment Complex with entertainment options from dancing, to live music to dining or a bar. In addition to the night time entertainment downtown also features a museum district with five distinct museums.

Other entertainment and recreation venues located downtown include the following.

  • Beaumont Civic Center - The 6,500 seat civic center is located in downtown Beaumont.
  • Event Centre - The Event Centre and plaza is located at 700 Crockett Street between the streets of Neches and MLK Pkwy. The Event Centre opened on July 7, 2012. Outdoor features include a twelve-acre Great Lawn for concerts and a walking path. A 3,800 sq ft canopy with stage overlooks the twelve acre Great Lawn. A 14,000 sq ft canopy overlooks a two-acre lake with a thirty-five foot fountain. A a 16,000 sq ft event hall is used for indoor events.
  • Beautiful Mountain Skate Plaza - Located adjacent to the Event Centre at the corner of Magnolia Street and Laurel Avenue is the 10,000 sq ft skate park. The skate park grand opening was on August 17, 2013. The park includes ledges, rails, banks, bank-to-bank, quarter pipes, and stairs. The park also has an amphitheater for other events.

Golf courses

Within 30 minute drive

  • Big Thicket National Preserve, located north of Beaumont, hiking, canoe paddling, and swimming are some of the available activities.
  • McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, located about 30 minutes away from Beaumont, the refuge provides nature trails as well as photography, fishing, and hunting activities.
  • Sea Rim State Park, about 30 minutes from Beaumont adjacent to the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, Sea Rim State Park provides access to Gulf of Mexico beaches as well as hiking trails.
  • Village Creek State Park is located just north of Beaumont. Numerous activities including canoe paddling are provided.
  • Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, located in Orange, about 20–25 minutes east of Beaumont, Shangri-La Gardens has sculptured gardens and natural settings, as well as boat tours.
  • Stark Museum of Art, also located in Orange, provides several exhibits.

Events

  • Since 1907, Beaumont has been home of the South Texas State Fair and Rodeo, held at Ford Park during March. It is the second-largest fair in the state, attracting more than 500,000 visitors in 2009. The fair features a livestock show, a commercial exhibition, a carnival midway and numerous food choices. The Fair moved from the Fair Park Coliseum to Ford Park in 2004, a new, larger facility on the west end of Beaumont. The fair was previously held in the fall but was moved to spring after hurricanes Rita in 2005 and Ike in 2008 caused its cancellation twice within three years. YMBL Championship Rodeo is held at Ford Park during the South Texas State Fair. The rodeo is an annual event and is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Admission to the rodeo is included in fair admission.
  • The Gusher Marathon, organized in 2010 by the local nonprofit Sports Society for American Health, is the city's first annual marathon. The Gusher takes place in March and includes a 5K, half marathon and full marathon. The course begins at the Montagne Center of Lamar University and tours Downtown and Lamar before returning to the Montagne.
  • The Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest is a Jazz festival held in downtown Beaumont since 2005.
  • The Boomtown Film and Music Festival is a film and music festival that began in 2008 to replace the Spindletop Film Festival.
  • Dog Jam is a rock concert held annually at Ford Park.
  • July 4 Celebration - Each year, a July 4 celebration is held in downtown Beaumont. The celebration includes live music in and around Riverfront Park, a concert by the Symphony of Southeast Texas in the Julie Rogers Theatre, followed by a fireworks display viewed from Riverfront Park.

Parades

  • Downtown Winter Parade - On the first Saturday of December, downtown hosts the Beaumont Downtown Winter Parade. The parade features floats that travel down Main, College and Pearl streets. In recent years the parade has also featured a lighted boat parade that travels down the Neches River; spectators can watch from Riverfront Park.
  • Neches River Festival Parade - Part of the Neches River Festival held in April, this is a downtown parade. The festival has been held since 1948.

Transportation

Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT), located 9 miles (14 km) south of Beaumont's central business district, serves the region with regional jet flights nonstop to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW), Texas with this scheduled passenger service being operated by American Eagle on behalf of American Airlines. The Beaumont Municipal Airport (BMT) near the western city limit is available for general aviation travel.

The Port of Beaumont is located on the Neches River at Beaumont.

Amtrak's Sunset Limited train serves the Beaumont train station.

The city operates the Beaumont Municipal Transit System (BMT), a citywide bus system.

Major Highways

I-10
US 69
US 90
US 96
US 287

Architecture

CropBEAUMONTpsBEST
Downtown Beaumont, Texas from Laurel St.

Beaumont has 8 buildings over 100 feet (30 m) tall, the tallest being the Edison Plaza, which is 254 feet (77 m) tall. The old Edson Hotel, built in 1928 is nearly the same height at 240 feet (73 m). One of the most prominent downtown buildings is the 15-story San Jacinto Building. Built in 1921, it sports one of the largest four faced clock towers in the nation, each dial being 17 feet (5.2 m) in diameter. In 1922 the 11-story Hotel Beaumont was built across the street from the San Jacinto. The Hotel Beaumont bears a resemblance to the old Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta. The second oil boom of 1925 brought more people and wealth to Beaumont, the same year the 12-story American National Bank Building (now Orleans Building), was erected, and in 1926 Forrest Goodhue built the 12-story Goodhue Building which included a penthouse. In 1928, the Edson Hotel was built. No other buildings were built until Century Tower in 1962 and in 1982 Edison Plaza was built. In 1994 the 12-story LaSalle Hotel, built in 1927, was demolished.

The Jefferson Theatre was built in 1927 by the Jefferson Amusement Company for $1 million and was Beaumont's showpiece for many years. In 1928 the City Hall and Auditorium was built. It is now the Julie Rogers Theater.

Beaumont's Jefferson County Courthouse is one of the tallest county courthouses in the state and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Across the street from the Jack Brooks Federal Building is the Kyle Building, built in 1933. The storefront was recently restored and is considered to be one of the best examples of Zig-Zag architecture in Texas.

The Oaks Historic District has many restored historic homes.

Sister cities

  • Japan Beaumont's Sister City in Japan Beppu, Oita

Economy

According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report the top employers in the city were:

Cthsptfacbmt
Refineries, Port of Beaumont and the Jefferson County Courthouse
# Employer # of Employees
1 Lamar University 2,546
2 Beaumont Independent School District 2,317
3 ExxonMobil Corporation 2,189
4 Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital 2,136
5 Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital 1,653
6 City of Beaumont 1,293
7 Jefferson County 1,155
8 Burrow Global Services 785
9 Conns Appliances Inc. 617
10 Alorica 372

A significant element of the region's economy is the Port of Beaumont, one of the largest seaports by tonnage in the United States. The 842nd Transportation Battalion and the 596th Transportation Group are both stationed at the port in Beaumont.

In addition to companies doing business within the city limits, several large industrial facilities are located within the city's five-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction boundaries including the ExxonMobil Beaumont refinery and chemical plants, Goodyear Beaumont chemical plant, and DuPont chemical plant.

Jason's Deli has its headquarters in Beaumont. Conn's Appliances did have its headquarters in Beaumont; however, in mid-2012, Conn's moved its corporate headquarters to The Woodlands. Originally Sweet Leaf Tea Company had its headquarters in Beaumont. The headquarters moved to Austin in October 2003. Other prominent businesses which have been associated with the city and area have included the following: Bethlehem Steel/Trinity Industries Shipyard, where over eight hundred (800) vessels were built and repaired at the shipyard including barges, ships, and offshore drilling rigs including seventy-two (72) jack up offshore drilling rigs, the second-most offshore drilling rigs built in the United States, and seventy-one (71) Type C1 ships built for the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II; Dresser Industries, a Dresser-Ideco plant was a major employer for seventy-seven years; the plant, with around 350 employees, closed in 1985; Gulf Oil; Humble Oil; Magnolia Petroleum Company; The Texas Oil Company; The Texas Coffee Company, the first company in the United States to begin packaging coffee in vacuum-packed foil bags; and Universal Coin & Bullion, one of the largest retailers in precious metals and rare coins.

Sports

Beaumont has had a number of professional and amateur sports teams throughout the city's history. The American Basketball Association's Southeast Texas Mavericks were once headquartered in the city until moving to Shreveport, Louisiana in 2013. The Texas Strikers, a professional arena soccer team PASL, started playing at Ford Arena in 2012. Another notable team in the area has been the Beaumont Exporters, a minor league baseball team that played at Magnolia Ballpark and the Stuart Stadium from 1920 to 1949 and 1953–1955.

The Beaumont Golden Gators were a minor league baseball team that played at Vincent-Beck Stadium from 1983 to 1986. The Beaumont Bullfrogs were also a minor league baseball team that played in Beaumont. The Texas Wildcatters were an ECHL Hockey team based in Beaumont from 2003 to 2008. The Beaumont Drillers were an IPFL football team that played in Beaumont from 2003 to 2007, and The Basketball League planned to add the Beaumont Panthers as a new team in 2022.

University sports

Dauphin Complex from the stadium side.
Athletic complex at Lamar University

The sports teams of Lamar University compete in Division I NCAA athletics as the Lamar Cardinals. The athletics program is a full member of the Southland Conference; the Cardinals and Lady Cardinals compete in 17 varsity sports. The Cardinals Basketball team plays in the Montagne Center and Cardinals Baseball Team plays in Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The university brought back football in 2010; as part of the return, Provost Umphrey Stadium was completely renovated. The return was official when the Cardinals Football team played its first game in 21 years in the fall of 2010. The team currently competes in the Southland Conference as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).

Education

Colleges and universities

Lamar University

LUQuadLucasBuilding
Lucas Building at sunset

Beaumont has one state university, Lamar University, which is a part of the Texas State University System. Lamar University was established in 1923 as South Park Junior College. The university is currently classified as a national university. It is also classified as a Doctoral Research University – Moderate Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation. With over 100 degrees offered, the university's main academic offerings are in Business, Nursing, Teaching and Engineering. Lamar University's enrollment has grown tremendously in the first decade of the 21st century. This has prompted a building boom at the campus. The school's enrollment as of Fall, 2015 was above 14,966 students.

Lamar Institute of Technology

Lamar Institute of Technology, located directly adjacent to Lamar University, serves as the region's technical college for two-year degrees and certificates. Originally a part of Lamar University and its predecessors since 1923, Lamar Institute of Technology was chartered in 1949 when the Lamar College Bill was passed. The bill was sponsored in the Texas Legislature by State Representative Jack Brooks and Senator W.R. Cousins, Jr. of Beaumont. Lamar Institute of Technology became a separate entity in 1995. As of Fall, 2014, enrollment totaled 2,920 students.

Primary and secondary schools

WBHS
West Brook Senior High School

Beaumont is served by the Beaumont Independent School District, though there are also several private schools in the city and metropolitan area. All Saints Episcopal School is a private school that serves PK3–8th grade; this school provides the most beautiful educational setting in the area. All Saints is an inviting community with state of the art playgrounds and facilities, located on 11 acres.

High schools

  • Early College High School
  • West Brook Senior High School
  • Beaumont United High School
  • Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School
  • Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont runs three Catholic elementary schools in Beaumont, St. Anne Catholic School, St. Anthony Cathedral Catholic School, and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School. Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School is the city's lone Catholic high school. Legacy Christian Academy, on Highway 105, enrolls PK–3 through 12th grade.

Residents who live in unincorporated Jefferson County, but have a Beaumont address, are zoned either to Hamshire-Fannett Independent School District (south of Beaumont) or Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District (west of Major Drive and Highway 90).

Notable people

For a more extensive list of people associated with Beaumont, Texas see: People from Beaumont, Texas

  • Chip Ambres, Major League Baseball player
  • Kelly Asbury, film director, writer, illustrator and voice actor
  • Doug Ault, Major League Baseball player
  • Melvin Baker, football player
  • Jerry Ball, football player for SMU and in NFL, 3-time Pro Bowl selection; born in Beaumont
  • Vance Bedford, football coach
  • Charlotte Beers, businesswoman and former Under Secretary of State
  • Jan van Beveren, Dutch soccer player (goalkeeper)
  • Squire Booker, biochemist at Penn State University
  • James Brown, starting quarterback of Texas Longhorns from 1994 to 1997
  • Ben Broussard, Major League Baseball first baseman
  • Jay Bruce, Major League Baseball player, three-time All-Star; born in Beaumont
  • James Busceme, boxer who fought Alexis Arguello for world title in 1982
  • Wayde Butler, football player
  • Tracy Byrd, country music artist; grew up in Vidor
  • Mark Chesnutt, country music artist; grew up in Nederland
  • Robert Crippen, astronaut
  • Tiffany Derry, celebrity chef, Top Chef contestant and fan favorite winner
  • Floyd Dixon, professional football player
  • Mel Farr, football player, UCLA, first-round draft choice of Detroit Lions, NFL Rookie if the Year; born in Beaumont
  • Miller Farr, NFL player, first-round draft choice, three-time AFL All-Star; born in Beaumont
  • Debra Jo Fondren, model and actress, lived in Beaumont
  • Lew Ford, Major League Baseball player
  • Herman Fontenot, NFL player
  • Larry Graham, bass player for Sly and The Family Stone, pioneered "slapping" technique, founder and frontman of Graham Central Station
  • Detrick Hughes, poet, author
  • Harry James, musician and bandleader in Grammy Hall of Fame
  • Blind Willie Johnson, Baptist minister and seminal gospel/blues bottle-neck guitarist
  • George Jones, country music artist; grew up in Vidor
  • Louie Kelcher, NFL player, 4-time All-Pro for San Diego Chargers; born in Beaumont
  • Jerry LeVias, college and NFL football player, member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
  • Bruce Lietzke, professional golfer, 22 victories, member of winning 1981 Ryder Cup team
  • Arlon Lindner, Minnesota state representative and businessman
  • Barbara Lynn, R&B music artist
  • Bob Mann, political historian, columnist, head of Department of Journalism at LSU; born in Beaumont
  • Masada, pro wrestler
  • Christine Michael, Texas A&M running back
  • Kevin Millar, Major League Baseball player; played in college for Lamar
  • Frank Middleton, NFL player
  • Roger Mobley, child actor; police officer in Beaumont
  • Vamsi Mootha, Indian-American physician-scientist
  • David Ozio, bowler, won 11 titles on PBA Tour; executive at Etonic Shoe Company
  • Kendrick Perkins, NBA player; member of 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics
  • Mark Petkovsek, Major League Baseball player
  • Dade Phelan, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and Republican representative from District 21; real estate developer born in Beaumont
  • Bob Pollard, NFL player
  • Kheeston Randall, football player
  • Taylor Reed, football player
  • J.P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper", DJ, rock & roll singer, killed with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens in 1959 plane crash
  • Allan Ritter, member of Texas House of Representatives from Jefferson and Orange counties, born in Beaumont
  • Frank Robinson (1935–2019), Major League Baseball player and manager, member of Hall of Fame; born in Beaumont
  • Kevin Russell, musician, born and raised in Beaumont
  • Brian Sanches, Major League Baseball player; grew up in Nederland, TX
  • Bubba Smith, football player, College Football Hall of Fame, Super Bowl V champion in NFL and actor
  • Tom Tierney, noted paper doll artist, cartoonist, and painter
  • Billy Tubbs, basketball coach at Lamar, Texas Christian and Oklahoma University, 1988 NCAA Final Four
  • Jason Tyner, Major League Baseball player
  • Helen Vinson, actress, appeared in more than 40 films between 1932 and 1945; born in Beaumont
  • Clay Walker, country music artist; grew up in Vidor, Texas
  • Ben Wells, defensive back for CFL's Montreal Alouettes
  • Edgar Winter, rock music artist, brother to Johnny Winter; born in Beaumont
  • Johnny Winter, blues and rock music artist, brother to Edgar Winter; born in Beaumont
  • Will Wynn, former mayor of Austin
  • Mildred Ella ("Babe") Didrikson Zaharias, Olympic champion athlete and Hall of Fame pro golfer; one of the founders of LPGA
  • Gus Zernial, Major League Baseball player, 1951 American League home run leader; born in Beaumont

Images for kids

See also

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